Vernell
Vernell Wirth
d. December 24, 2010
Vernell Wirth, 85, of White Bear Lake, died December 24, 2010. Vernell, the only daughter of Hugo H and Leah Lanham Knutzen, was born April 11, 1925 on her grandfather Knutzen's homestead on Big Bordeaux Creek near Chadron, NE. She was raised on her parents' farm, also on Big Bordeaux Creek, but spent her high school years living with relatives and family friends in Chadron so she could attend school. In 1944, she moved to Denver, CO and worked as a legal secretary.
On February 4, 1949, she married her high school sweetheart, John Franklin Wirth, in Denver, CO. In March 1954, they purchased a home in Thornton, CO where they raised their three children. She continued to live in Thornton after John's death on May 23, 1982. Four years later, her mother, Leah, joined her in Thornton.
In 1990, Vernell retired from the local school district after working 18 years in the offices of the local elementary and junior high schools. She and Leah moved to White Bear Lake, MN in 1991 to be near her son, Ron. While living in White Bear Lake, she spent many happy hours volunteering in the pool at the Courage Center in Stillwater.
She is survived by three children: Janis (Rik) Littlefield of Richland, WA, Ron (Celia) Wirth of Stillwater, MN, and Steve (Sally) Wirth of Egg Harbor, NJ; six grandchildren: Kyle, Peter, Caitlin, Kristen, Rob and Serena; and three great grandchildren: Tyler, Joseph and Victoria. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
A memorial service will be held at The Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater, MN 55082 on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 7 PM. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO. Memorials in Vernell's name may be mailed to Courage Center Development Department, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Minneapolis, MN 55422, or go to www.couragecenter.org and click on Donate.
On February 4, 1949, she married her high school sweetheart, John Franklin Wirth, in Denver, CO. In March 1954, they purchased a home in Thornton, CO where they raised their three children. She continued to live in Thornton after John's death on May 23, 1982. Four years later, her mother, Leah, joined her in Thornton.
In 1990, Vernell retired from the local school district after working 18 years in the offices of the local elementary and junior high schools. She and Leah moved to White Bear Lake, MN in 1991 to be near her son, Ron. While living in White Bear Lake, she spent many happy hours volunteering in the pool at the Courage Center in Stillwater.
She is survived by three children: Janis (Rik) Littlefield of Richland, WA, Ron (Celia) Wirth of Stillwater, MN, and Steve (Sally) Wirth of Egg Harbor, NJ; six grandchildren: Kyle, Peter, Caitlin, Kristen, Rob and Serena; and three great grandchildren: Tyler, Joseph and Victoria. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
A memorial service will be held at The Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater, MN 55082 on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 7 PM. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO. Memorials in Vernell's name may be mailed to Courage Center Development Department, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Minneapolis, MN 55422, or go to www.couragecenter.org and click on Donate.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vernell Wirth, please visit our flower store.
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